The top, or yule, is the oldest toy that laid the foundation for the gyrocompass and is still studied by students in the section “Theoretical Mechanics”.
Who invented the spinning top?
This is not known, but archaeologists constantly find tops in excavations at different ends of the earth at the locations of dwellings of various peoples. So, one of the first mentions of a top belongs to the third millennium BC, namely, to ancient China. Ancient spinning tops can be seen in the exposition of the Historical Museum in Moscow, and in large museums of other countries they also exist.
Different peoples called this toy differently: trompo, sakai, Celtic stone. In Russia, the spinning top was called the “kubar”, it spun just like all the other spinning tops in the world. However, everything about the spinning top with a thread (how to start, how much it spins and how it falls) still interests every child.
Why is he spinning?
There are a lot of wolves in stores. The toy can be of different sizes and sizes, made of various materials. They also color the toy in different ways: they are monophonic, but there are colored ones with a print. But all the toys behave the same: a spinning top with a thread (how to start it is indicated in the instructions) as if “stands” on an invisible leg, then deviates to the side, only then falls.
The top is accelerated by the force with which a person pulls the thread attached to it. The toy revolves around its own center of gravity. But in the process of rotation there is a friction force against the air, and the tip of the top rubs against the surface on which the toy is placed. The friction force gradually slows down the rotation, the speed drops, and the top deviates from its center of gravity. Then it stops spinning and stops falling.
How to launch a spinning top toy?
It is very easy to do. To understand how to start a spinning top with a thread, just watch the video. You need to wind a thread or thin lace on a vertical axis, put the toy on a hard flat surface, and then pull it. The spinning top will spin for several minutes - the time depends on the size of the toy.
The shape of the top does not really matter. The toy always revolves around its own center of gravity, each one is individual.
The center of gravity is the point at which all moments of power of any object converge. Every figure or object has a center of gravity. Therefore, tops of any shape rotate on a prominent point. People have long noticed this feature of the toy and have always used it. He solved the mystery of the top and described it from the point of view of science, the great Newton.
Many years after the beginning of the history of the top, scientists noticed that the axis of each of them is tending to the North Star. Moreover, this property was first discovered theoretically. Here are some amazing discoveries you can make if you think about how to start a spinning top with a thread.
Interesting collection of tops
Marketers came up with an excellent move: in a chain of stores, when buying for a certain amount, give a spinning top for free. Each tiny toy turned out to be part of the collection, and for many children of primary school age a spinning top with a thread "Okay" turned into a coveted thing.
Children seek to collect a complete collection, for which they began to exchange and sell individual copies through social networks. In addition, the creators of the collection came up with a design, a legend and a role for each toy. All together it turned out to be extremely exciting. There is also a network computer game "Battle of the tops." The winner of the game during the action could get a prize - a complete collection of real tops.
Any spinning top with a thread “Okay” has its own print that distinguishes it from other similar toys. Separately sold battlefield. Each group of tops has its own planet. They enter into a difficult game and can defeat each other.
Why do we need a spinning top with a thread?
This is a universal lifesaver for parents, especially for busy mothers. It is known that the development of the brain in a child is closely related to finger movements. The more the baby makes small movements, the better he speaks, remembers and quickly learns all the skills necessary in life. In this perspective, a spinning top with a thread is an ideal finger trainer. A small toy needs to be grabbed by the axis and untwisted with a certain force.
Moreover, the thread must first be wound on the axis, and this already requires skill. The rotation of the top is fascinating, you want to twist it again and again. Bright colors and magic of rotation attract the child. To understand how to spin a spinning top with a thread, the child repeats small movements endlessly, and his development improves.